News Archive (July 2014)

Wednesday 30 July

You don’t have to go on Kinder or Bleaklow to get away from it all.
Andrew & Bob’s walk from Carsington Reservoir took us on a circuit via Brassington, Ballidon, Bradbourne, Kniveton, and Hognaston on a remarkably traffic free route amid countryside little changed over the years. Sleepy villages and substantial churches. A great walk for 23 followers.

Ballidon Church – a redundant, friendless building ?

Followed by inquisitive, playful livestock

All Saints, Bradbourne

Saturday 26 July

The fitter walkers have been out yet again.
Photos by John of an Edale Circular – 21 miles, 3000 feet of ascent, done in a very warm 26 degrees with no shade.
Five participants, ending in the Cheshire Cheese at Hope. Moving time six hours, five minutes.

Mike, Andrea, Gordon, & John ready to go

Cock wheatear sitting on post

Coffee stop over Crookstone Knoll

Heading for lunch and South Head

Saturday 26 July

Our group does not confine themselves to just 400 walks a year in Derbyshire and surrounding counties but enjoys many walking holidays in Britain and abroad, both packaged and individually arranged.

Tricia, Tony, and Hilary had these photos taken during a walking holiday in Ischgl, Austria – the second when they walked over the border to Switzerland. The weather was great and they had a superb holiday.

All walking photos, wherever they come from, are welcomed.

Wednesday 23 July

Images from John of the longer walk led by Rhona and Gavin. Brilliant journey in lovely weather from Old Glossop – 12 miles through open countryside with wonderful views along Longdendale to the Woodhead Reservoir lunch at Crowden, where Mel had his now compulsory ice cream.

Coffee stop at ruined lodge

Mike & Gavin at the Pennine Way

Just checking

River Etherow looking down Longdendale

Mike in the lead through woodland

Rhona & Gordon

Crossing the dam at Valehouse Reservoir

Wednesday 23 July

On a hot day there is nothing like the cool breeze on the Derbyshire Edges.
Richard’s walk was ideal for the glorious weather. A 10 mile bus walk from the Robin Hood to Baslow, via Gardoms Edge, Curbar Edge, Grindleford and Froggatt.

Wednesday 16 July

Nice signpost at Tinsley. Pity about the spelling.

A dozen took the bus to Killamarsh today for a ten mile walk to Meadowhall – led by Andrew.
One of our more industrial walks, but still plenty of nature at Rother Valley Country Park, Woodhouse Washlands, Treeton Meadows, and on the Trans Pennine Trail.

Proof that you can visit Meadowhall without spending money.

Wednesday 9 July

A Staffordshire day for two of our groups, with one tackling the Roaches and a bus / train party making the journey to Lichfield.

The Lichfield theme centred on one of its most famous sons, Erasmus Darwin – the grandfather of Charles Darwin – but also a very accomplished man in his own right.
Although he lived in Lichfield for 25 years in the 18th century, he has links with Derbyshire, having been educated at Chesterfield Grammar School and being buried at Breadsall, north of Derby.

The walk started and finished in the centre of Lichfield, but followed the route of the memorial Darwin Walk from Beacon Park to Curborough, outside the northern edge of the city.
Magnificent weather, if a bit cloudy at times.

The three spires of Lichfield Cathedral from Pipe Hall Farm

Lichfield Cathedral from Erasmus Darwin House

Monday 7 July

Local government is struggling with government imposed financial cuts. As a result Derbyshire County Council are proposing budgetary reductions across the board. Some of these will affect the Countryside Service.

Over the next three years, a third of the budget for countryside services is proposed to go. During this time, the council will look to pass responsibility for some of its sites to other groups and organisations and sell some sites. Under the proposals, the events programme will go unless alternative ways of funding it can be found. The council will try to increase income by charging more for car parking and renegotiating leases for things like ice cream vans and cafes at its sites. The proposed cut for the first year is £451,000.

What effect this will have on the Rights of Way budget remains to be seen, but it is vital that the legal obligation of the Council to keep our footpath network open and accessible is observed.

The Ramblers organisation throughout the country of course assists each county council with its footpath maintenance and improvement work – not least our group – and has saved county councils a great deal of money over the years. Despite this there is already a significant amount of outstanding work, as our ‘Paths in Crisis’ report showed.
The next three years are bound to be challenging. We need to continue to report problems – and any volunteer help for Mel and our local maintenance team becomes even more valuable.

One of the jobs in June for Mel and the team on Holmesfield Footpath 36.

Homesfield 36 alignment. Broke through fence and wall.

Installed gate, rebuilt wall and restored fence.

Saturday 5 July

John’s images from a long walk from Alstonefield, taking in Dovedale and the Manifold Valley – led by Peter.
No treasure trove found, unfortunately.

How green is my lane

Beeston Tor, Manifold Valley

Dry stone walling

Thorpe Cloud from Bunster Hill

Ilam Hall from Bunster Hill

Wednesday 2 July

Another good day ‘getting away from it all’. Lunch at Margery’s, a walk led by Mike. Action photos from John and Mel.

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Wednesday 2 July

Many thanks to Kay & Jean who today led 14 on a walk from Moscar Lodge to High Bradfield, via Dale Dyke – the source of a tragic flood 150 years ago.

Beware of bikes if you’re walking in the Peak this weekend. They’re preparing in High Bradfield for a bit of a Yorkshire cycle race coming through.